Honda C 90 E Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda C 90 E car check
Is the Honda C 90 E reliable? We analysed 1,075 real MOT tests across 276 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda C 90 E? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda C 90 E is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include suspension assembly excessive wear or free play in a front suspension component, wheel alignment incorrect which adversely affects the handling and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda C 90 E.
Honda C 90 E Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda C 90 E. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda C 90 E MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda C 90 E to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda C 90 E Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda C 90 E fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda C 90 E Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda C 90 E owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda C 90 E MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda C 90 E year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 59 | 78.0% | 7,816 | 11,180 | 17,780 |
| 1986 | 201 | 82.1% | 9,688 | 17,660 | 24,999 |
| 1985 | 502 | 80.9% | 13,969 | 18,594 | 30,057 |
| 1984 | 254 | 78.0% | 13,149 | 18,342 | 25,514 |
How Long Does a Honda C 90 E Last?
Based on 276 Honda C 90 E vehicles on UK roads.
Honda C 90 E Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda C 90 E MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Honda C 90 E
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
82.1% MOT pass rate from 201 tests
78.0% MOT pass rate from 254 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda C 90 E is 1986, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 82.1% across 201 tests. The 1984 model year has the lowest pass rate at 78.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda C 90 E Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda C 90 E THIS CAR | 81.0% | 1,075 | 18,007 mi | 42 yrs |
| Honda Civic | 73.7% | 9,391,580 | 74,987 mi | 34 yrs |
| Honda Jazz | 81% | 5,740,892 | 48,635 mi | 24 yrs |
| Honda Cr-v | 78.5% | 4,177,643 | 80,499 mi | 29 yrs |
| Volkswagen Tiguan SE TDI 4MOTION 140 | 83% | 1,027 | 115,205 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda C 90 E sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda C 90 E you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Honda C 90 EShould you buy a used Honda C 90 E?
The Honda C 90 E has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.0% across 1,075 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Honda C 90 E are suspension assembly excessive wear or free play in a front suspension component (14 recorded failures), wheel alignment incorrect which adversely affects the handling (13), and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (12). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Honda C 90 E owner drives around 205 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Honda C 90 E models stay on UK roads for around 42 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.